Editorial

Over the last decade, the number of plastic surgeries being performed has risen across the board, but one procedure in particular has experienced the most significant gains.
The number of patients undergoing tummy tucks has increased 84 percent from 2000 to 2009, according to statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).

A new technology being used by some plastic surgeons allows patients to view images of what they might look like post-surgery. CBS Atlanta reports that the 3D imaging process involves six cameras. Pictures are taken of the patient beforehand, and the doctor can then adjust the photos to illustrate how the patient may look after the operation.

The operator of an underground cosmetology center in Washington recently returned to the Evergreen State to face trial. Federal prosecutors charged Conchita Sadiua Caspillo in March 2007 with performing cosmetic surgery without a license in their Lakewood, Washington home, according to the Seattle Post Intelligencer.

With the advent of many new procedures over the last decade, the number of facelifts being performed in the United States has dropped significantly. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that treatments like Botox injections and microdermabrasion seem to be gaining popularity, but facelifts remain a viable option for those who want to see a more substantial result.

Botox may be commonly thought of as an effective way to reduce signs of aging, but it may soon be used for a different purpose. The neurotoxin was recently approved by the
Food and Drug Administration to be used as a treatment for patients who suffer from migraine headaches.

The treatment has been approved for chronic migraine suffers, meaning only those who experience frequent and extreme headaches are candidates. The approval by the FDA comes after the administration approved Botox as a remedy for muscle spasms in elbows, wrists and fingers.